AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

MOTOR TRAFFIC ORDINANCE 1956

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

No. 6 of 1956

		This Ordinance amends the Motor Traffic Ordinance 1936-1955 for the following purposes:-
(1)	To provide for the operation of taxis and private hire cars instead of public hire cars as at present.
(2)	To omit all prescribed forms for licences and certificates.  This will allow more flexible administration and permit the forms to be amended when necessary.
(3)	To omit references to “owners’ certificates” which have not been issued for a number of years and are not considered necessary.
(4)	To provide for the recognition of third party insurance policies as issued in the Northern Territory.
(5)	To give the Registrar power to cancel the registration of a motor vehicle not insured in accordance with the provisions relating to third party insurance.
(6)	To provide that visiting motorists from overseas may drive in the Australian Capital Territory if they hold a current licence in their home country or an international driving permit.  This has been recommended by the Australian Transport Advisory Council.
(7)	To make it compulsory for red reflectors to be fitted at the rear of all motor vehicles.  This is a recommendation of the Australian Motor Vehicles Standards Committee and follows similar legislation in N.S.W. and Victoria.
(8)	To make it an offence to have a motor vehicle or trailer so loaded that any article or thing falls to the roadway.  This is to give power to prosecute persons who leave on the roadway bricks, pine offcuts and the like which fall from their vehicles.